|
Written by Mark Burton
|
|
Friday, 24 July 2009 |
|
 Plans have been submitted to demolish a derelict eyesore in Harrowgate Hill.
The former petrol station site on North Road, which was last used as a Shell garage and convenience store, closed its doors in 2005.
Now local building company A Gregory Contractors have put in an application to Darlington Borough Council to demolish the old filling station and build thirteen terraced properties.
Local residents have long wanted the site improved and judging by the number of positive comments Mr. Gregory - who lives in Harrowgate Hill - has received, from his initial consultation, the vast majority of residents have given this development the thumbs up.
The plans envisage 13 two-bedroom, two storey properties, built in keeping with surrounding houses. The properties will all face North Road and will include a small forecourt to the front, ground floor bay window and garden area to the rear.
I would like to wish Tony the very best of luck with this development and look forward to this area of our neighbourhood finally being developed.
Cllr. M Burton
|
|
|
Safer Routes to School scheme on Longfield Road |
|
Written by Mark Burton
|
|
Friday, 24 July 2009 |
|
 The Council has a permanent traffic counter site on Whessoe Road and Longfield Road that records speed, volume and classification.
The latest available data for Whessoe Road was recorded between 7 and 14 June 2009 and the data for Longfield Road was recorded between 10 and 17 May 2009. The results of the survey, over 7 days, indicate that the 85th percentile speed (the speed at which 85% of all the vehicles travel at or below and 15% exceed it) on Whessoe Road is 32.8mph and the average speed is 28.1mph. The 85th percentile speed on Longfield Road is 34.7mph and the average speed is 29.5mph. The 85th percentile speed is a nationally used indicator to determine the safest and most competent drivers and this figure is used to determine whether the Police will take enforcement action. Durham Constabulary would normally carry out enforcement action where the 85th percentile speed is above 35mph (in a 30mph zone) and, more importantly, where more than 15% of motorists are exceeding 35mph.
At these locations, only 3% (Whessoe Road) & 8.3% (Longfield Road) of vehicles were above 35mph. Consequently Whessoe Road and Longfield Road do not warrant enforcement and unfortunately the Police are very unlikely to take any further action.
Over 104,000 vehicles were recorded on Whessoe Road and sum 53,000 vehicles were recorded on Longfield Road over 7 days!
Scheme planned for Longfield Road
Longfield School submitted their school travel plan in March 2007 and it was identified that safer crossing points and traffic calming are required on Longfield Road. As a result of this, Longfield School was put forward as a potential Safer Routes to School scheme in 2008/09, but due to the complexity of the scheme it was delayed until 2009/10. The potential scheme includes a 20mph zone between Alwyn Road and Thompson Street West, traffic calming, signalized crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and formalizing the on street parking arrangement.
The Council are currently preparing a feasibility study of the proposed measures and before implementation also intend to undertake a series of consultations with the residents and Durham Constabulary to seek their support. And if monies are available, and the consultation stage is successful, it is the Council's intention to introduce the road safety measures later this financial year.
Cllr. M Burton |
|
|
Questions you may have... |
|
Written by Mark Burton
|
|
Tuesday, 21 July 2009 |
 Are you ready for the new refuse collection service to start on September the 7th?
What can I do with my spare recycling boxes?
Please use them all if possible to recycle as much glass as you can. If you have an extra green box you may wish to give it to your neighbour or family friend who either does not have one or they may require an additional box. Alternatively please contact Customer Services on (01325) 388 777 and the council will arrange to collect it.
Will I be able to put household batteries in my bin?
Your household batteries can be put into the Black Sack from September 7th - as these items will then be extracted along with other recyclable materials at the new household recycling plant.
Will the time or day of my collection change?
The collection days for refuse and recycling will not change however there may be slight changes in the collection times as a result of the new service. Please continue to try and have your boxes and bags out for collection by 7:30am on your collection day to avoid any missed collections.
Will I still need my blue bag?
Yes, From September 7th paper and cardboard will be collected in the Blue Bags. An additional bag can be requested from Customer Services on 01325 388 777
What will I have to put in the green box?
From the 7th September you need only put glass in your green box, cardboard and paper goes in the blue bag, and everything else should go into a sack.
Are you only going to recycle the items I put in the blue bag and green box?
No, your black sack/s will be taken to a new Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plant to be processed. In a two-week process, food and other waste will gradually be removed, and items such as plastic bottles, food and drinks cartons, steel and aluminium cans, batteries and other metals will be separated out for recycling.
Leaflets with more details of the recycling improvements will be distributed to all households in Harrowgate Hill next month, but if you would like to find out more now please visit; Making Waste Work
Cllr. M Burton |
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 July 2009 )
|
|
|
Zone Active Summer Programme |
|
Written by Mark Burton
|
|
Tuesday, 21 July 2009 |
  Darlington Borough Council - Summer Programme's
What ever activity takes your fancy... you'll find something to keep you active this summer in one of these two PDF documents.
Simply click on the images to download a whole host of information about what's on this summer in and around Darlington at The Arts Centre,
Civic Theatre, Dolphin Centre, South Park & more… for you and your children. |
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 July 2009 )
|
|
|
More Lighting Requests Over the last six months |
|
Written by Mark Burton
|
|
Monday, 13 July 2009 |
 I’ve received four more requests from residents for additional lighting as follows;
(a) Lawson Street rear lane: to help stop anti social behaviour issues;
(b) Longfield Road rear lane: to help reduce opportunities of theft, break-in, graffiti and criminal damage;
(c) Ridgeway parking area to aid personal safety concerns and;
(d) Mayfair Road back lane: to help reduce and kerb anti social behaviour issues.
Accessing budgets to install additional lighting depends very much upon the type of issues involved and need first raised by residents, for instance; anti social behaviour issues may access funding from the Councils’ Anti Social Behaviour Team’s budget.
I’m keen to see all these locations provided with addition lighting and exploring every possible option. I’m currently looking at how the Council assess and prioritise new street lighting requests which have been identified and have a mind to request a review through a Scrutiny Committee in the form of a ‘task and finish’ group who could set up an action plan to form clear guidance of criteria and then carry out assessments to prioritise where lighting is actually needed the most.
Cllr. M Burton |
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>
|
| Results 64 - 72 of 342 |
7°C 
Roadworks...